Entrepreneurial success for Heriot-Watt

Heriot-Watt has been shortlisted for four exciting projects in the 2018 Converge Challenge.

The institution has four projects shortlisted – one in the Converge category and three within KickStart which focuses on early stage ideas.

The Converge category project, Kenoteq, is led by Dr Gabriela M. Medero, a civil engineer and associate professor at Heriot-Watt and Dr Sam Chapman, a Royal Academy of Engineering Fellow.

Kenoteq is a clean technology business specialising in building products. These include K-Briq, a durable ‘unfired’ brick which is made with 90 per cent of materials recycled from demolition and construction waste.

The three KickStart projects are:

Vassiliki Voulgaridou with HiRes Solutions, a software designed for ultrasound image processing that provides highly detailed maps of the circulation of cancer.

ThermoDrone led by Simone Mattsson uses drones and infrared cameras for assessing the thermal behaviour of structures within the distilling and brewing industry.

Dr Carolina Mateo-Segura with InfiNect, a technology that will enable fast internet connectivity when travelling anywhere by plane, train, bus or car.

Paul Atkinson, founder of Par Equity and a member of the Converge Challenge Strategic Advisory Board said: “Converge Challenge is a transformative programme which combines business support, training and mentoring as a complete package to support the business creation process.

“This sets Converge Challenge apart as Scotland’s most prestigious company creation programme for our academic community. It continuous to nurture disruptive innovative companies generating a much needed pipeline of high quality investable propositions.”

“For the university-based entrepreneurs their entrepreneurial journey starts with Converge Challenge – crystallising the business idea and making them part of the highly supportive ecosystem. We are delighted with such a strong cohort of projects and look forward to working with them in the months to come.”

The Converge Challenge 2018 winners will be announced at a gala dinner and ceremony on Thursday 20th September at the Assembly Rooms, Edinburgh where a total prize pot of £160,000 and in-kind business support await the winners and runners up.